I care about this neighborhood, it’s not just where I live, it’s part of who I am. I’ve seen so much change over the years, but now it’s starting to feel like the kind of change that pushes people like us out. There’s a plan in the works to bring a Hyatt hotel and private athlete housing to land that used to belong to our community. Remember the Robert Taylor Homes? They tore those down with the promise that they’d rebuild and bring families back. That never happened. Instead, CHA and our City Officials are selling off the land to developers tied to elite tennis programs and political insiders. People with money. People with power. People who don’t live here. And honestly? It hurts. It feels like the city is more interested in making deals than keeping promises. They say it’s “development,” but who is it really for? Not the families who used to live here. Not the students whose schools are now half-empty. Not the kids who need safe places to play, affordable homes, or someone to invest in their futures. There’s this guy Kamau Murray,  he runs XS Tennis. He says he’s doing it for the youth, but if you go by there, it’s all elite players, out-of-town visitors, and not much actual connection to the community. And yet, somehow, he’s the one getting city land. It doesn’t add up. I’m fighting this because I believe our neighborhood deserves better. We deserve homes, not hotels. We deserve to be heard, not sidelined. And I’m asking people to sign a petition, to stand with us, because once this land is gone, it’s gone. And so are the families who could’ve come back. So yeah, this is personal. I’m not just angry, I’m trying to do something about it. Because if we don’t fight for our neighborhoods, who will?

 We need our New Jersey state legislature to protect our state from the threats from the federal government on our most vulnerable residents and our democracy. Last week's budget cuts threaten food and housing security. Due to the astronomical increase in ICE funding, we anticipate that actions taken by DHS will increase to the level seen in California, including tanks and military being deployed to MacArthur Park. We have elected our legislators to fight for New Jersey and we need them to be able to react urgently to the unprecedented attacks on our state coming from D.C.

Our Message to Lawmakers: We believe in responsible gun ownership and in protecting our children. Gabbi’s death, and many others like hers, should never have happened. We call on our elected officials to act now and pass Gabbi’s Law to ensure no other family endures the pain of losing a child to a preventable tragedy. Let’s save lives through accountability, awareness, and compassion.

Collective voices create power. One voice can spark a movement, but many voices can’t be ignored. The more people who rally behind my cause, the more pressure it puts on decision-makers to right a wrong. This is how real change begins. It could happen to anyone. Supporting my campaign means recognizing that no one is immune to injustice. If it were their loved one suffering, they’d want the world to care too. 

The Harder Hall historic property was documented as sold to Robert Blackmon and several corporate entities on August 30, 2022. A proposal to transfer management and ultimately, ownership of the Sebring Municipal Golf Course and Caddyshack restaurant was presented by Robert Blackmon and an attorney on March 18, 2025. That meeting can be observed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7_8DALdxCU with the presentation of the request and subsequent discussion beginning at 49 minutes, 46 seconds (49:46) into the meeting. In April of 2022, prior to completion of sale of the hotel, it is Mr. Blackmon’s assertion that in April of 2022 he had received assurances from city officials that “no one saw any issues with the idea” of this transfer. If city officials were aware of an offer on the table, why then did they expend city funds on improving a course they had intended to gift to corporate entities, furthering a loss of funds to the city? City facilities are not in the business of accruing a profit, but are there to serve the people of the city and county, which it has done for quite a while. It would be good for it to remain that way.

My son is in Job Corps and is doing extremely well. Before joining the program, he faced numerous challenges in finding a path that would lead him to a stable and successful future. Job Corps provided him with not only vocational training but the confidence to believe in himself and his capabilities. My family and I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of this program. Job Corps is a critical lifeline for many young adults who face barriers in entering the workforce, offering them valuable education and training needed to secure meaningful employment. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps serves approximately 60,000 students annually, with over 90% of graduates obtaining employment, pursuing further education, or enlisting in the military. The recent proposal to cut funding for Job Corps could jeopardize the future of countless young people who rely on this program to build their skills and secure their careers. Such cuts not only threaten their futures but could also lead to increased unemployment and poverty within this demographic which ultimately affects our communities at large. Instead of reducing support, we should seek to enhance the Job Corps program, ensuring it has the resources needed to expand and improve. By doing so, we are investing in our nation's young people and by extension, the very future of our communities. I urge policymakers to reconsider the proposed funding cuts. Help us keep the hope alive for many young adults looking for a chance to succeed in life. Sign this petition and stand with us to protect and support Job Corps.

Many Mobile Home Parks in Florida are being sold at inflated prices. Why are investors offering such high prices. It is to keep residents from buying the park as a group. Buying the park is the goal. Once the park is bought and homeowners are clueless as to what may happen next. The park buyers now have the residents under their control. They set lot rent prices and the residents can not do anything about it. Many times these lot rent increases are 50% - 100% increases.  With this kind of increase residents find themselves unable to afford the home they worked so hard to get. The price of the homes to sell is now down a lot. This is the lucky case scenario. Many times these residents get a notice to vacate and these homes are not really mobile. Many have been in that spot for decades. The sad part is that because these people have purchased the home and are paying lot rent is why the property is so valuable. When the new owners take over they have instant cash coming in. They wont have to worry if a residents air conditioning goes out, that is on the owner of the mobile home and not the owner of the land. This has to stop or we will have so many homeless seniors, vets and families because they cannot afford to live where they had planned. Many who thought they were living an affordable retirement and proud to do so. They now feel doomed and must seek help from the government to get into affordable housing and it just isn't there. Why is nothing being done. We need better laws. Chapter 723 is way too weak for todays situations.  “There are greedy people out there. Investors are being told that "A mobile home park is the best investment, you can control these people because they bought the house and cannot afford to leave so they will pay whatever you charge."”

This would greatly impact the already large number (1, 538, 100) of people suffering from food insecurity. Children specifically, would have yet another barrier preventing them from thriving, and being able to learn. 

This campaign is important because it gives voice to the employees of Everstand who are directly affected by a sudden and substantial 60% increase in benefit costs. The decision was made without transparency or employee input, creating an unsustainable financial burden for staff who are already underpaid in the nonprofit sector. It sends a message that employee well-being is not a priority—despite our agency’s mission to support and uplift families and communities. At a time when staff morale and retention are ongoing challenges, this campaign is about advocating for fairness, financial stability, and respect in the workplace. It’s about holding leadership accountable to the same values of care and community they expect us to uphold in our work with families. Why should other people join you in your campaign for change? Others should join us because this issue affects all of us—whether directly through higher benefit costs or indirectly through the strain it places on our colleagues, our workplace culture, and ultimately the quality of service we provide to the families we serve. When we come together to raise our voices, we show leadership that employees are united, engaged, and unwilling to accept decisions that harm our well-being without dialogue or accountability. Standing together gives us strength, and sends a clear message that we expect our organization to live up to its values—not just in the communities we serve, but within our own walls. By joining this campaign, you're not just advocating for yourself—you’re standing up for your coworkers, your profession, and the belief that every employee deserves respect, transparency, and fair treatment.

Keeping our community safe is a top priority. Right now, fire services, EMS, and lifeguards' funding comes from fire assessment fees, impact fees, and other charges that fall on property owners. But there is a better way.   This November, you can vote on a 1-cent sales tax dedicated exclusively to public safety. This funding will:   ✔ Fully fund fire, EMS, and lifeguard services countywide ✔ Eliminate fire assessment fees and impact fees, so property owners are not paying twice ✔ Ensure everyone contributes, not just homeowners, but also visitors and businesses ✔ Provide stable, long-term funding for faster response times and improved emergency services   This is not a new tax, and it is a smarter way to fund public safety. By shifting to a small sales tax, we ensure that everyone who benefits from these life-saving services helps pay for them, instead of relying on a system that unfairly burdens property owners. Together, we can create a fair, sustainable funding system that keeps our firefighters, paramedics, and lifeguards ready to serve without charging homeowners unnecessary fees.

This is not just Heidy Sanchez Tejeda’s story — it’s a reflection of what can happen to any loving, law-abiding family caught in a broken system. Heidy was deported despite having no criminal record, leaving behind a U.S. citizen husband and a medically fragile, one-year-old daughter who was still breastfeeding and suffers from seizures. Their daughter was born through IVF — a miracle child whose health and well-being now suffer daily without her mother’s care. This campaign is about family, justice, and compassion. By supporting Heidy’s return: • You stand for keeping families together, especially those with vulnerable children. • You send a message that non-criminal parents should not be torn from their babies. • You demand that our immigration system make room for humanity, health, and hope. Every signature, every share, every voice matters. Together, we can show decision-makers that the American public believes in second chances, in love over bureaucracy, and in doing what’s right. Join us to bring Heidy home — because no child should be separated from their mother.

This issue affects all Taunton residents. It is an investment in the success of our city.